NEWS

TEAM NI ANNOUNCED FOR GOLD COAST 2018

With just over three months until the Opening Ceremony of the XXI Commonwealth Games, 88 athletes have been named to represent Northern Ireland in Gold Coast, Australia. TeamNI will compete in thirteen sports during the 278 competition sessions of the eleven day programme. A total of 69 individual athletes have been selected by the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council while the Netball squad, four Weightlifters and three para-athletes have received direct invitations due to their Commonwealth rankings.

The NI athletes will be joined by sport specific coaches, medical personnel, support staff and a headquarters team bringing the size of the travelling party to 134, the largest Northern Ireland team to ever attend a Commonwealth Games in Australia. TeamNI boasts members from every local authority area in Northern Ireland making it a truly representative squad which, despite the ten hour time difference, will no doubt receive great support from across the community during the Games.

Gold Coast will be the fifth Australian city to host the Games following Sydney 1938, Perth 1962, Brisbane 1982 and Melbourne 2006 but the country has not been a particularly happy hunting ground for Northern Ireland’s athletes with only nine medals having been earned during the four previous Games down under. With five Silvers and four Bronzes won, a Gold medal in Australia has proved elusive.

Winner of one of those nine medals is David Calvert who was joined by Hazel Mackintosh to win a Full-Bore Shooting Bronze medal in Brisbane 36 years ago. David returns for his eleventh Commonwealth Games and will be seeking to add to his tally of four Gold and four Bronze medals.

Given the high standard of competition to be faced, world class performances will no doubt be on the radar for this TeamNI of 2018. The ‘usual suspect’ sports of Boxing, Lawn Bowls and Shooting will be chasing spots on the podium but there will also be contenders in other sports including Athletics, Cycling, Gymnastics and Swimming. Glasgow 2014 medallists Michaela Walsh, Alanna Nihell and Steven Donnelly have again been selected to compete in Boxing while medal winning bowlers Neil Booth and Barbara Cameron are now amongst the coaching staff.

The Games have been billed by GOLDOC as the most inclusive ever and, for the first time at a global multi-sport Games, there is medal equity with an equal number available for men and women. Gold Coast will also host the largest ever parasport programme at a Commonwealth Games and among the 300 para-athletes will be Northern Ireland’s Jack Agnew (Athletics), Barry McClements (Swimming) and David Kerr (Triathlon).

Northern Ireland Chef de Mission, Robert McVeigh, said:

“It’s a great privilege to lead the Northern Ireland team to Australia in April. It’s also an honour for each of our athletes, coaches and support personnel who have all been working extremely hard with a focus on Gold Coast. The Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council has been engaging with member governing bodies and SportNI over the last two years to ensure that the team reflects all that is good within local sport. We will continue to work within the wider team to ensure that each athlete is provided with a suitable environment so they can perform to their best.”

Sport Northern Ireland Chief Executive Antoinette McKeown added:

“On behalf of Sport NI, I would like to congratulate all those selected to represent Northern Ireland in the Gold Coast this year. The Commonwealth Games provides a unique opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland’s sporting talent. We are delighted to be supporting the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council and to provide specialist services to TeamNI athletes and coaches. It is particularly pleasing to have several of our specialist colleagues supporting the Team during the Games. Sport NI wishes all members of TeamNI every success in Australia.”

Follow TeamNI on their journey to and at the XXI Commonwealth Games on Facebook Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games and Twitter @GoTeamNI #TEAMNI

BAHAMAS COMMONWEALTH YOUTH TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT

With just a little over two months before the action begins, the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC) has announced the team which will be competing in the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau, Bahamas between 18th and 23rd of July.

The Commonwealth Youth Games will bring together 1000 young athletes for this festival of elite sport. The Youth Games are a vital stepping stone for young athletes with previous competitors including; Olympic medallists Jessica Ennis-Hill, Beth Tweddle, Chad le Clos, Geraint Thomas and Michael Conlan. Carl Frampton represented Northern Ireland at the Bendigo Youth Games in 2004 before going on to become a World Champion.

Northern Ireland will be represented by 18 athletes across 5 sports: Aquatics, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling and Judo. Athletes have been selected based upon nominations from their respective sport’s governing body and are aged between 15 and 18.

The swim squad consists of Rachel Bethel (Lisburn), Jack McMillan (Bangor), Rebecca Reid (Ards) and Shannon Russell (Lurgan). Due to a change in the games scheduling following Samoa 2015, Rachel Bethel will be competing in her second Commonwealth Youth Games. Swimming has regularly returned from Youth Games with medals. This group will be targeting the podium against the might of Australia, England, Scotland and South Africa.

Athletics sees a mix of track and field competitors with Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley) looking to build upon her early season form which saw her jump 1.82m outdoors at the weekend. Aaron Sexton (North Down) will relish the stiff competition in the 100m and 200m, while Anna McCauley (City of Lisburn) will look to fly over the 100m hurdles. One lap specialist Davicia Patterson (Beechmount) completes the group and will be a contender in the 400m.

Six boxers will be seeking to maintain the sport’s terrific recent record at Commonwealth competitions as Kian Bittles (Holy Trinity), Dominic Bradley (Errigal), Anthony Johnston (Gleann), Aaron McKenna (Old School), John Moran (Illies) and Kane Tucker (Holy Trinity) take to the ring. Despite the high standards and unpredictability of competition all five NI boxers returned with medals from the Samoan Youth Games in 2015, including Aaron’s older brother Stephen.

Cycling will include a road race and time trial in which Northern Ireland will be represented in both disciplines by Harvey Barnes (East Tyrone) and Adam Ward (Powerhouse Sport). Conditions and acclimatisation will be tough on the Bahamian roads.

Judo is another sport which often medals at Commonwealth level and both Matthew Elliott (Murakwai) and Kirstie Strouts McCallion (St. Columb’s Park) will be seeking to replicate the senior successes of the likes of Lisa Bradley and Lisa Kearney.

‘It’s a great honour for these young athletes to represent Northern Ireland at such a prestigious global event. Our planning has been in progress for quite some time and, over the next couple of months, we will continue to make sure that all the athletes and coaches are suitably prepared so that they can perform to the best of their ability. NICGC acknowledges the ongoing support given to athletes by their respective governing bodies and SportNI. We wish them every success.’

The athletes will be accompanied by a support team of twelve, including coaching, medical and management staff.

HIGHLIGHTS

Just ‘One Year To Go’ until Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

With just one year to go before the start of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast 2018, Australia, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council welcomed representatives from the local sporting community to Lagan Valley Island to mark the occasion with an event that announced Kukri Sports as official sportswear supplier to TeamNI.

Whilst it will be a challenge for Northern Ireland to replicate the hugely successful Games at Glasgow 2014 and Delhi 2010, work is well under way as the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council partners with a range of stakeholders to develop TeamNI. It is anticipated that approximately 80 athletes will travel to take part in 14 different sports which will be supported by a dedicated group of approximately 40 coaches, medical staff and team management.

Northern Ireland’s team selection will not be confirmed until January 2018. Therefore, athletes will spend the next nine months targeting nomination times and results within specified tournaments. Competition at the 2018 Games will be fierce and medals will be hard earned, especially for those sports competing outside their traditional northern hemisphere season.

Speaking at the event, Robert McVeigh, Chef De Mission for Team Northern Ireland, said;

‘A year may seem like a long time for many members of the public but the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 are very much in the sights of our athletes, coaches and support staff. Indeed, we are already more than a year into our planning phase, working with the Commonwealth Games Federation, GOLDOC (Gold Coast 2018 Organising Committee), our member sports, SportNI and local authorities. Today, we’re delighted to announce Kukri Sports as our kit supplier for the 2018 Games as well as for the 2017 Bahamas Youth Games.’

“We are honoured and delighted to be named as the Official Apparel Partner to the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team heading to the Gold Coast in 2018. Our experience in providing quality high performance sportswear to teams in multi-sport events combined with the dedicated athletes and coaching staff of TeamNI is a great partnership and cements our vision to become the number one Multisport brand in Northern Ireland.”

Brian Bloomfield, Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council welcomed Robert McVeigh, Chef de

Mission, Team Northern Ireland and members of the N.I. Commonwealth Games Council to the

Chestnut Suite at Lagan Valley Island for the Countdown event. He said;

“It is a genuine pleasure for us to act as host today with just ‘one year to go’ to the start of next year’s Games in Gold Coast. The Lisburn Castlereagh Council area has a great sporting tradition with many representatives across a range of sports having participated at past games. Our training facilities are excellent and I wish all our athletes the best as they train and prepare over the next 9 months for team selection.”

Follow the TeamNI journey to Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 on Twitter and Facebook (GoTeamNI) or visit www.nicgc.org

FIND A SPORTS STAR 2016/17

On the 22nd & 23rd December 2016 the Find a Sports Star initiative was launched. Over 120 young potential sports stars attended talent identification sessions across 11 Commonwealth Games sports in Avoniel Leisure Centre and Andersonstown Leisure Centre.

The initiative is delivered in partnership with Belfast City Council and Better and aims to identify talented young people who may have the potential to compete in the Belfast 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. Successful participants will be invited to additional training sessions early in 2017.

Check out the video and photos of the participants involved. Well done to everyone who attended the sessions in December and be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming news about the next phase of the initiative.

BELFAST CITY COUNCIL - FIND A SPORT STAR

The NICGC in partnership with the Belfast City Council are delighted to announce the Find a Sports Star initiative. The initiative aims to identify and support sporting talent in the Belfast area in Commonwealth Games sports in the build up to the Belfast 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games.

The initiative will run a series of talent sessions on the 22nd and 23rd December which are open to young people aged between 10-16 years. The following sports are available to participate in; athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, fencing, gymnastics, hockey, judo, lawn bowls, squash and weightlifting.

For more information about the initiative and for details about the talent sessions, please click here to go to the Find a Sports Star website.

Bahamas 2017

Winter is here, but for many young NI athletes it means that the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games is just around the corner. The sixth edition of Youth Games - now just over 200 days away - will be hosted in the capital Nassau from the 18-23 July 2017.

The NICGC will be represented in 5 sports; athletics, boxing, cycling, judo and swimming. Following the team's success in the Samoa 2015 Youth Games with a haul of 12 medals, we look forward to working with all the relevant governing bodies in the build up to the Youth Games to best deliver a strong Team NI.

ABOUT THE BAHAMAS

LOCATION

The Bahamas is a Caribbean archipelago of 700 islands spread across 259,000 square kilometres, of which 30 are inhabited. It is located approximately 80 kilometres off the coast of Florida, USA.

Tropical all year round, with two distinct seasons – the wet season running from June to October and the dry season from November to April. Average daily temperature is 27C and ocean temperature in the mid 20’s. The average temperature for July is 30C.

SPORTS FESTIVAL AIMS TO ENCOURAGE FUTURE COMMONWEALTH YOUTH ATHLETES

Sports festivals, led by the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council, showcased 10 sports from the Commonwealth Games programme across 3 venues to more than 300 primary school children. The aim of the Commonwealth Sports Festivals was to encourage children from all sections of our community to participate together in a range of sports, hopefully inspiring the next generation of young athletes who could compete in the Belfast 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. The Commonwealth Sports Festivals provided the children an opportunity to meet coaches and athletes who are in training for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. This legacy programme provided links to local clubs and national governing bodies to hopefully allow the children to engage in a lifelong participation in sport.

For further information visit www.belfast2021.com and follow Belfast 2021 ‘on the road’ to the VII Commonwealth Youth Games on Instagram, Facebook and twitter @Belfast2021

BELFAST GETS READY TO ‘BELIEVE IN YOUTH’ AS CITY WILL HOST THE VII COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES IN 2021

BELFAST GETS READY TO ‘BELIEVE IN YOUTH’ AS CITY WILL HOST THE VII COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES IN 2021

On the 1st February 2016, at Belfast City Hall, The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC) announced Belfast as host City for the VII Commonwealth Youth Games in 2021. The games, which will be held from 27th July – 1st August 2021, hopes to welcome 1,000 young athletes from 71 nations and territories within the Commonwealth of Nations to venues across Belfast and surrounding areas.

The Commonwealth Youth Games started in Edinburgh in 2000 and since then has taken place in Bendigo, Australia (2004), Pune, India (2008), Isle of Man (2011) and Samoa (2015) with the 2017 Games due to be hosted in The Bahamas. The Games, aimed at 14 -18yrs, have featured Commonwealth, World and Olympic champions athletes including Jessica Ennis-Hill, Beth Tweddle, Geraint Thomas, Caster Semeya and our own Carl Frampton and Michael Conlan.

The Youth Games will involve up to nine sports which will be announced in Edmonton, Canada, in October 2016 at the CGF’s General Assembly. They will be selected from Commonwealth Games Federation sports programme which have governing bodies affiliated to the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council.

It is anticipated that the benefits and legacy from the games will not only have an impact on Belfast but on the whole of Northern Ireland. The Youth Games will attract officials, dignitaries and large numbers of visiting friends and family as well as provide the opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland as a world class tourist destination with the ability to stage fantastic sporting events. Legacy programmes featuring sport initiatives, volunteering and social cohesion are already being developed. Underlining all of this is the unique opportunity to promote the Games Federation’s values of Humanity – Equality – Destiny and the sharing of ideas and culture with young people from across the world to help promote tolerance and respect.

Commonwealth Games Federation President, Louise Martin CBE, said:

“I am thrilled to announce that the Executive Board of the Commonwealth Games Federation has unanimously voted to award the 2021 edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games to Northern Ireland. The Commonwealth Youth Games are an important and inspiring demonstration of the connecting and life-changing power of sport to bring people and different communities together. As Samoa showed us last year, hosting a special sporting occasion like the Youth Games empowers even the smallest nations to have a profound and distinctive impact – not just on their own young people or their own communities – but on an international scale. The Commonwealth Games Federation looks forward to working in close partnership with you to realise your ambitions to write a proud and ambitious new chapter in Northern Ireland’s history through the unifying power of sport”.

Robert McVeigh, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council, added:

‘On behalf of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council I’m delighted to accept this offer to host the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2021. This is a hugely significant day for local sport; the result of many years of lobbying and hard work. It offers a great opportunity for children of upper primary school and Year 8 age to strive towards being part of the largest ever TeamNI at Commonwealth Youth Games. We look forward to the tremendous support for which the Northern Ireland public is renowned.”

Welcoming the successful bid Lord Mayor, Arder Carson, said:

“When major events come to our city we get involved in our thousands and embrace the festival atmosphere. We will support the Commonwealth Youth Games with as much vigour as we have previous global events such as Giro D’Italia and Tall Ships Race. These events provide multiple opportunities for new experiences particularly for young people through volunteering – it gives them an exciting way to highlight and develop their skills and talents. I am sure everyone in the city, young and older, will throw themselves behind the event to ensure its success and strengthen our reputation as a city capable of hosting international events with a welcome and warmth that ripples around the world. I commend all who have helped make this vision a reality. Throughout the bidding and lobbying process they have been selling all that is good about our city and it is to their credit that we have won the right to host the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2012.”

For further information visit www.belfast2021.com and follow Belfast 2021 ‘on the road’ to the VII Commonwealth Youth Games on Instagram, Facebook and twitter @Belfast2021 #GoBelfast2021.

Billy Stewart R.I.P.

Dedicated, dapper, precise, a stalwart, tidy, voice of moderation and gentleman were descriptions often used to describe Billy Stewart, a veteran of many Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games campaigns.

Billy was chairman of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council for the thirty years between 1977 and 2007. He was elected by to this position by the governing body membership while he was serving on the Council as the Northern Ireland Cycling Federation representative, a role he had carried out efficiently for many years.

Billy came from a cycling family and was guided and encouraged by a father who had gained success in the sport. During the late 40’s to the mid 50’s he competed in sprint cycling events in Europe as well as across these islands. Results available at this time of writing confirm that he won the Northern Ireland championship in 1953 in the 440yards and 1000yards and was runner up the following year in the Irish sprints over 880yards, 1000yards and 1mile. Shortly after this he retired from competitive cycling involving himself in administration, coaching and promotion with his Maryland Wheelers club.

Towards the end of the 50’s he was selected to manage Irish track cycling teams to European events. Local governing bodies recognised his ability to deliver in numerous ways, so the Northern Ireland Cycling Federation encouraged and elected him to serve on their committee. He became Chairman of the Federation in 1967 and remained in office until 1975.

Billy’s legendary attention to detail in his voluntary roles and his humour were honed by a working life as a structural engineer employed by R J McKinney.

It was with R J (Dick) McColgan in 1974, on the Northern Ireland team to Christchurch New Zealand that a partnership formed which through four decades was to make a significant impact on the Commonwealth Games organisation, its constituent sporting bodies and allied sporting agents at home and abroad. . Billy became Chef de Mission of the Northern Ireland team to the Manchester Games in 2002. Two years earlier Billy headed the first Northern Ireland youth team to the Commonwealth Millennium Youth Games.

Billy as chairman of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council welcomed and supported every person to become established in the organisation and fulfil their role. He was always well prepared for business on the agenda, and using this groundwork and vast experience was rarely rushed into making a hasty or unfair decision. In carrying out all duties representing the organisation he took great care to be responsible for his actions and words. Under his chairmanship the Council became an incorporated body, developed and strengthened with other constitutional changes.

He was recognised for his voluntary contribution to sport in the 2007 New Year’s Honours being awarded an MBE. In 2008 he received A Lifetime Achievement Award from the Commonwealth Games Federation in recognition of his contribution to the Games movement.

Billy enjoyed recalling amusing events, magical moments, meetings and encounters with famous people. He took genuine pleasure in reminding and congratulating people in his company of their achievements. He had an ability to avoid offending when being critical or perhaps when recalling an event that was not so memorable. He was an enthusiastic golfer, a devoted and caring husband and dedicated sibling to his brother and four sisters.

The sporting world is saddened by his passing.

He is survived by his wife June who was a valued advisor and dedicated supporter of his voluntary work for sport and sister May. He was 83.

Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Patron:

Dame Mary Peters CH DBE RNR

Picture caption: Dame Mary Peters and Jessica Ennis-Hill CBE, at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, 2015.

Dame Mary Peters has been appointed Patron of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council. A former athlete with an unrivaled CV, she represented Northern Ireland at every Commonwealth Games between 1958 and 1974, winning 2 Pentathlon gold medals, plus a gold and silver medal in the shot put.

Since retiring as an athlete in 1974, Mary has continued to devote her life to sport. Through determination, commitment and much effort, Mary campaigned for an international standard athletics track for Belfast, which was subsequently named in her honour when it was opened in 1975. Mary is well known for her charitable work in Northern Ireland and is currently Patron of REVIVE, FASA and The Mary Peters Trust. She is much admired and a great ambassador for sport as she continues to inspire a future generation of athletes.

Early Life:

Mary Peters was born in Halewood, Lancashire on 6 July 1939. Her family relocated to Ballymena, Northern Ireland when she was 11 years old. Shortly after this the family moved to Portadown where Mary attended Portadown College, the place she was introduced to athletics.

Sporting Career:

Mary first represented Northern Ireland at the Cardiff Commonwealth Games in 1958 when she was just 19 years old. Representing GB at the Olympic Games in 1964, 1968 and 1972, Mary broke the World Record in the Pentathlon when she won Gold in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. In December 1972, she was honoured to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Mary retired as an athlete following the Commonwealth Games in 1974 but remained an important influence within sport, being appointed as Team Manager for the GB Women’s Athletics Team from 1979-1984 (including the Moscow and LA Olympic Games) and as a British Olympic Association Ambassador.

Present Day:

Mary was awarded an MBE for Services to Athletics in 1973, the CBE in 1990 for Services to Sport and in 2000 was promoted to Dame Commander (DBE) for Services to Sport and the Community in Northern Ireland. Mary received the Freedom of the City of Lisburn in 1998, and then in 2009 she was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast, later receiving the Freedom of the City in 2013. Mary has also been appointed an Honorary Officer in the Royal Naval Reserve. A sculpture depicting her famous 1972 Olympic Gold Medal victory was unveiled by Lord Sebastian Coe (vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federation) following the refurbishment of the Mary Peters Track in 2013. In the New Year Honours list of 2015, Mary was awarded the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) from Her Majesty the Queen.

More success for NI target shooter

David Calvert conquerors Bisley

Northern Ireland's most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete, David Bisley, was in superb form at the recent National Rifle Association championships at Bisley.

David not only regained the prestigious Queen's Prize, which he had previously won in 2010, but he managed to also claim victory in the St. George's competition.

During his Commonwealth Games career, David has amassed four Gold and four Bronze medals. His sights are no doubt now on Gold Coast 2018!

NI Team Announcement

Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games

With just a little over two months before the action begins, the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC) has announced the majority of the team which will be competing in the Commonwealth Youth Games. The Games will take place in Samoa between the 5th and 11th of September.

The Commonwealth Youth Games will bring together 1000 young athletes for a festival of elite sport. The Youth Games are a vital stepping stone for young athletes with previous competitors including Olympic medallists Jessica Ennis-Hill, Beth Tweddle, Chad le Clos, Geraint Thomas and Michael Conlan. A certain Carl Frampton also represented Northern Ireland at the Bendigo Youth Games in 2004 before going on to become World Champion.

Northern Ireland will be represented by 17 athletes across 5 sports: Aquatics, Athletics, Boxing, Lawn Bowls and Squash. All of the competitors have been selected based upon nominations from their respective sport’s governing body and are aged between 15 and 18.

While still of tender years, the swimmers bring a lot of experience with Rachel Bethel (Lisburn) and Danielle Hill (Larne) having both competed at last year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games. They are joined by Emma Reid (Ards), Conor Ferguson (Larne) and James Brown (Ards). Four of this quintet are currently in Baku for the European Games while Conor is preparing for August’s World Junior Championships in Singapore where he’ll be joined by Rachel.

Two long jumpers will be travelling with the team. City of Lisburn’s Ben Fisher and Ballymena & Antrim’s Lydia Mills will be hoping to leap their way to success while Ben is also eyeing the 110m hurdles. Newry’s Oisin O’Callaghan will race over 800m, pitting himself against the cream of east Africa.

Five boxers will be seeking to maintain the sport’s terrific recent record at Commonwealth competitions as Stephen McKenna (Old School), James McGivern (St. George’s), Tiernan Bradley (Sacred Heart), Aidan Walsh (Holy Family) and Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) will attempt to add to the burgeoning haul of medals collected by local boxers.

World U25 Indoor Bowls Champion Chloe Watson will team up with Lisburn’s Stephen Kirkwood as they attempt to emulate their elders who have picked up medals at every senior Commonwealth Games since 1982. Singles and a mixed pairs competitions are on offer.

Squash will be represented by Bangor Aurora’s Stephen Hearst and Ellie McVeigh from Belfast Boat Club who, similar to bowls, will compete in singles and a mixed doubles competition.

NICGC Chairman, Robert McVeigh, offered his congratulations to all those who had been selected. ‘It’s a great honour for these young athletes to represent Northern Ireland at such a prestigious global event. While it will be an arduous trip to Samoa, we will be endeavouring to make sure that all the athletes and coaches are suitably prepared so that they can perform to the best of their ability. We wish them ever success.’

The athletes will be accompanied by a support team of eight, including coaching, medical and management staff. The NICGC acknowledged the ongoing support given to athletes by Sport Institute Northern Ireland and the financial contribution made by SportNI. Interestingly, the vast majority of the young athletes selected have also been supported by the Mary Peters Trust during their fledgling careers.

Caroline O' Hanlon

10 November 2014

A Huge Congratulations to our Netball player Caroline O’Hanlon on winning Ulster All Stars 2014 she also scooped the Senior player’s player of the year 2014, and not forgetting earlier this month picking up the Ulster GAA Writers ladies player of the year.

Well Done Caroline!! from the NICGC.

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

21 October 2014

The Annual General Meeting

Being the first Annual General Meeting following a senior games, the current board have stood down and new members have been elected to serve until the AGM following the 2018 Gold Coast Games.

A single nomination was received for each of the officer posts and the following are therefore deemed elected in line with the Governing Documents.

Chair – Robert McVeigh

Hon. Secretary – Terry Crothers

Hon. Treasurer – Stewart Tosh

After 33 years as Hon. Treasurer, Jack has decided to retire form the NICGC. His attention to detail was second to none and he will be sorely missed. We hope to still see a lot of him and wish him good health in the future. We would also like to congratulate Jack Monaghan on winning WJ Paddy Patterson award justly deserved.

We also send a fond farewell to Asfand Minhas, Asfand was with us for nearly two years and was a friends to all and a great asset to the organisation. We would like to wish him great success in his future career.

Eight nominations have been received for the remaining six board positions therefore a paper ballot took place the nominations were

John Allen

Richard Briggs

Jonny Davis

Amanda McMaster

Alison Moffitt

Ken Nixon

They will take on and lead us through the two youth games in Samoa 2015 and St. Lucia 2017 the commonwealth games in Gold Coast 2018. We hope the members of the governing bodies support the board as elected.

24 June 2014

With just less than a month to go till the Opening Ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games, Team Northern Ireland members officially got together for the first time this past weekend.

Athletes, coaches and support staff celebrated the occassion with an evening dinner in which certificates were presented by Chef de Mission Robert McVeigh along with the Games Management to officially welcome everyone to the team... READ MORE

10 June 2014

With little more than six weeks before the action begins, the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council has revealed its largest ever team, with a total of 117 local athletes participating across 14 sports, during 11 days of world class competition at Glasgow 2014.

Replicating the incredible haul of ten medals from the 2010 Games is a very tall order but there are a number of genuine contenders who are ready to challenge the best in the Commonwealth. Across boxing, cycling and shooting, Paddy Barnes, Steven Ward... READ MORE

24 May 2014

While last week witnessed the Queen’s Baton Relay passing through Northern Ireland, the Commonwealth Games focus shifted on Saturday as hundreds of athletes competed in eight sports across three Belfast venues. But there was a slight twist as these athletes were all primary school children taking part in the Glasgow 2014 ‘2nd Nation’ programme which has paired the region of Dumfries and Galloway (D&G) with Northern Ireland.

23 May 2014

After four wonderful days travelling throughout Northern Ireland, the Queen’s Baton Relay has ended another leg of its global journey at the University of Ulster campus in Belfast. Themed around People, Places and Performance, the trip has certainly whetted the appetite for the Commonwealth Games which will begin in Glasgow on 23rd July.

Having already been to 66 countries on its 180,000km journey, the Baton was hosted by the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council (NICGC) and broadcast to a worldwide... READ MORE